Madame Butterfly

Throughout his career, Kenzo continually brought Japanese culture into dialogue with Western fashion. For Madama Butterfly, he returned to the kimono, reimagining traditional Japanese dress through the floral patterns and vibrant compositions that had become signatures of his work.

The project occupied Kenzo for nearly two years. While secondary characters were given restrained pastel costumes, the principal roles received richly patterned, spectacular designs intended to combine Puccini’s dramatic vision with what Kenzo described as the “Japanese spirit.”

Although Kenzo produced thousands of sketches throughout his career, finished watercolor costume designs are considerably rarer, particularly those created outside his fashion collections.

Provenance: Kenzo Takada’s personal collection; Artcurial, Paris, May 2021.